The process begins With the reduction of a soul to a color Stripping traditions, suppressing identity Bleaching our minds, the only remedy Justice is nowhere The innocents left in anguish Self-hatred instilled systematic oppression Correlation of color and suspicion Scales imbalanced, only money connects Impoverished grieve, true evil collects A place where race threatens security Born charged with the crime of impurity Guns to my face Cuffs on my wrist Knees to my back Treat me like a savage And I'll become the animal you want me to be A jaundice complexion Provoking true disgust Black eyes, no expression The essence of distrust Reduce me Condition me Incarcerate me I will never be free